Floccinaucinihilipilification is the longest non technical word in English language. For readers who are keen to know more about this word which basically means “ an act of estimating a thing as worthless” can go to this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/floccinaucinihilipilification.
This is the word which readily comes to my mind when I recollect my first encounter with the Managing Director of the company I had joined straight after graduation. I had joined a company whose name itself I hadn’t heard till three days before receiving the coveted appointment letter. It so happened that we were selected in the campus interview by the parent company and were called for formal group interview by the parent company. On not being selected by the parent company a few of us were asked to appear in a similar group interview by this company. A few of us were selected by this company as “Graduate Trainee” and were given the appointment letters.
My father who had started his career exactly thirty years earlier as graduate trainee of the parent company was both surprised and saddened when I informed him the name of the company I was planning to join post my graduation. I had found nothing wrong with this company with its well manicured lawns and very polite and helpful executives who we met during the course of the selection process. Those were the days of control and the government controlled every thing including the capacity you built, quantity you produced, price you charged your customers etc etc.
Our training for a batch of about twenty (twelve graduate trainees and rest management trainees) started in right earnest. This was the first time I encountered class distinction. Management trainees were on board neither because of their abilities and nor because of their need to earn livelihood, they were mainly there because they happened to be from rich and influential families. Trainers obviously and for good reason cared more for the management trainees, and it wasn’t unusual for them to turn a blind eye to their misdeeds and indiscipline. The top management new all the management trainees well and went out of their way to make them comfortable in the new corporate jungle we had stepped into. The training was structured and informative. All the graduate trainees just out of engineering colleges found enough areas where they felt that their ideas if implemented could make material difference to the company.
Our training period was of one year duration and even after finishing more than six months we hadn’t met the MD of the company. We had heard enough inspiring stories about him to have really started looking forward to interaction with him. He was almost projected as demi god and the whole company apparently owed their continued employment in the company to his charisma and dexterity in turning around the company. The calendar year was about to end before we got placed in our respective departments (some out of personal choice and some out of corporate needs). One month before this was to happen we were asked to do any project of our choice to suggest improvement in the company. At the end we were expected to do a presentation to the Managing Director (MD). By this time the trainees’ strength has reduced to fourteen from original twenty. Some had left for greener pastures and most of the MT’s had left because they didn’t find the hostel food good enough and the quality of equipments in the gymnasium very inadequate. Every trainee got down to serious hard work as this was our one in million chance to get into good books of the MD.
My project was “Change of pickling media in our old plant from Hydrochloric acid to Sulphuric acid to reduce cost”. It was detailed work in which I covered just about everything. It was to bring in an annual saving of almost rupees one million on one time investment of merely one tenth of that amount. I discussed this with my close friends and also took help from my professors. In short I seemed to be satisfied with my maiden effort on a project in the corporate world.
The month was February and the year was the year when Reliance world cup cricket took place in India. We were asked to be ready with our presentation as the date could not be finalized. The MD had a very busy schedule and since the month is more famous of Indian national budget the MD had to keep visiting Delhi to ensure favorable pronouncement from the Govt. Everyone knew how these things work and how important they were for any company. It seemed that the brother of a big superstar of bollywood , with his strong political contacts , had license to import inferior product from developed countries, and this was playing havoc with marketability of the product our company made.
Presentation those days were very different from what we are used to day. There was neither power point nor overhead projectors. All you did was having your presentation typed and circulate it to the people who were going to evaluate it. In case of a query you used a blackboard and chalks (even ubiquitous white boards hadn’t arrived). I was asked to keep twenty sets ready. Any interaction with MD meant that all the senior and not so senior managers will be present in the conference room irrespective of what prior engagements they were having. It provided them an opportunity to impress the MD and also show how they have helped certain trainees who were known to the MD.
Excitement was building as we waited for the call informing us about the presentation. On a Tuesday (can’t recollect the date despite possessing a very good memory) at around 10 AM we were informed by the training manager that our presentation will happen at 11.45 AM in the conference room. We were asked to give a copy of our report to the manager so that the same could be given to the MD’s office. At exactly 11.30 AM we were ushered into the conference room. The sequence of the presentation was clearly spelt out. I was fourth in the list. We occupied the massive oval table. By 11.40 AM the seats behind the oval temple were taken by the top managers of the company. The trainees looked nervous and the managers kept giving us meaningful looks. And we waited for the MD’s arrival. At exactly 11.50 AM the MD’s secretary entered the room and announced “MD will be here in five minutes”.
At 11.58 AM MD entered the conference room with his secretary who was carrying a thick file. Till then we had only heard about the MD and seen his black and white photographs and today was the first time most of the trainees were seeing the MD in person. He was not only the MD he looked like one also with his aristocratic looks. Any fool entering the room could have guessed that he was the MD even if the MD had decided to sit on the back seat. MD took his seat at the top of the oval temple and then he spoke. He had a booming deep voice. I can still vividly remember his first few sentences and it went
“Good Afternoon, every one. My sincere apologies to the trainees for not meeting you earlier. The last few months I had been rather unwell and after that I was busy traveling to ensure that our company remains afloat. I hope you have been well looked after. After brief introduction of trainees we will start with the presentation. I have a lunch meeting at 2.00 PM and we should try to finish at 1.45 PM. Ok lets start”.
Introductions took only ten minutes. We followed the same sequence as laid out for the presentations. The presentations started immediately after that and the three trainees who were before me in the list finished their presentation in a total seventeen minutes. MD had gone through all the presentations as he had both questions and suggestions. He made few notes. And then my turn came. I got up and started reading from the bullet points I had made. Since my project was slightly technical, questions started from the managers who were working in the plant. As I was well prepared I was able to handle all the queries with ease. My presentation copy which was with MD had a detailed explanation on monetary benefits. Surprisingly the MD didn’t ask any question. This could be either construed as a good report or his total disinterest. Just before I was to say “thank you” and take my seat the MD’s booming voice was heard. He just said one word that was “flocci-nauci-nihili-pili-fication”.
What followed was deathly silence in a room which had at least forty individuals. I heard muted chuckle from some of the managers and their face had an expression as if the word just spoken by the MD was the first word of his favorite joke which these people had forgotten and now eagerly awaited to hear it again. The rest kept staring at me awaiting the next scene to unfold as if a suspense thriller had reached its defining moment. As far as I was concerned my mind had totally drawn blank. I kept looking at MD expectantly and he kept staring at me with no decipherable expression. The ten to fifteen seconds gap between his last word and the next seemed eternity for me. Finally MD decided to utter his next word, the consequence of his last word had ensured that I was still standing and now my gaze was on my report which was lying on the table in front of me too frightened to even look at the MD. This is how the conversation went after this.
“Have you heard of this word before?”
“Yes, Sir”.
“How come?”
“I was interested in quizzes during my school and college days”.
“That’s very good, I love quizzards”.
“Thank you, sir”.
“And, what does the word mean, Mahendra “.
“Act of estimating a thing as worthless”.
“Brilliant”
“Thank you, sir”.
“Good, come and meet me one of these days. Thanks. Next presentation”.
As I took my seat, I had no clue on the fate of my presentation. I was merely relieved that my ordeal was over. For the next few days the discussion in the hostel mainly revolved on my presentation and why MD asked me to meet him.
For the MD it was easy to say come and meet me one of these days. For me it was the logistics which hampered immediate execution of MD’s order. Where to meet him, his office or in the club or his home and what if he has forgotten about his comment. Time flew and this conversation became less and less important. I was placed in the production department and serious work started. My idea was the only one which the management felt needed a serious look into. A committee was formed which thought that though the idea was good but it couldn’t be implemented as the company had signed a five year contract with the hydrochloric acid supplier. Moreover the supplier was very well connected and any rescission of the contract would have long term ramifications.
In less than two months I was not only bored with my assignment but felt the need to run away from the daily routine of managing an operation which mainly called for one’s man management skills. I remembered MD’s invitation. I had been told how good a human being he was and how he always helped people who went to him seeking help.
It was end of March and I had just completed an uneventful night shift where our shift had achieved a new record on highest production in a shift coupled with the highest yield factor. After reaching the hostel I had my breakfast and went to sleep. Got up at 11.00 AM and had a quick bath and walked my way to the MD’s secretariat with fear in my heart and prayer on my lips. MD’s secretariat is some place where you are not expected to be seen. Most of the visitors there were either summoned by MD for any deficiency in their performance or had come to give MD some special information about something which couldn’t reach him through proper channel. I was there to meet MD to seek help. I gave my appointment slip to his secretary wherein I mentioned personal against purpose. His secretary insisted on knowing what personal meant and kept prodding for quite sometime to know the exact reason. On my refusal to tell him the reason, he gave up with a warning that MD would be very upset with me for not trusting his secretary and might not meet me. I just said I will wait and went to take my seat amongst other people who were waiting for their turn to meet him. People kept going into his room and coming out without even spending a minute there. I couldn’t make out from their facial expression whether they had achieved anything from the meeting. I knew that I will have very little time in front of him and so worked out in my mind what exactly I was going to say. Time was running out and the number of people waiting to see him was getting fewer and fewer by the minute. People had started talking that they might not get their turn as MD has to go for a luncheon meeting.
Rather than fearing the prospect for not being able to meet to him today, I was getting relieved of the fact that I won’t face the prospect of coming face to face with him. Suddenly his secretary called my name and I entered MD’s office with measured steps but with nervousness writ large on my face. When I saw his towering figure going through a file in a massive room all my rehearsed lines refused to come to my lips.
“Good morning, sir”. I said
“Good Afternoon”. He said without lifting his head to see who the guy was who had made the first faux pas even before taking the hot seat.
“Sorry sir, good afternoon”. I blurted out.
I kept standing not knowing what to do next. During such moments you normally do not know what to do with your hands. I started counting the number of fingers I had in each my hand. Just as I was relieved at my discovery of having all my fingers intact, he looked up and said “Sit down”. I took my seat. MD continued reading the paper he had in front of him. I kept staring at his face. After a minute or so which seemed a lifetime for me, he looked at me and smiled.
“How are you Mahendra?”
“I am fine sir.”
“Don’t lie, people who are fine do not come to meet me and by the way I had asked you to meet me. I wanted you to represent our club in quizzes but you never came to meet me.”
“I am sorry, Sir. I was too afraid to meet you.”
“Now that you are not afraid tell me what brings you here.”
“Sir, I want a transfer.” I told him the exact reason why I wanted a transfer. He listened to my spiel without once interrupting my rehearsed lines. After I was through he waited for a moment and spoke.
“Well I understand your reason of need for change but the company had recruited you with its specific need in mind and if I transfer you the company’s plan will get affected. Anyway let’s see what best I can do for you”.
Then he called the chief of HR and asked him to meet him with my personal file the next day at 11.30 AM.
“Ok Mahendra. And yes go and meet Mr. So-and-so in the evening and join our quiz team.”
“Thank you, sir.” I left the room quite satisfied with my performance but not very hopeful of any favorable response. I had heard enough stories about the MD which gave me hope. The logic said it won’t happen but the world lives on hope and so did I.
More than a week had elapsed and my hope had started giving way to reconciliation with facts of life. I was asking for something which was going to help me but what about the company. But something told me to remain hopeful. After all great people are known for their ability to help when needed and forgive when asked for forgiveness.
Exactly ten days after the day I had collected all my courage to meet the MD I received a call in my office when I was busy sorting out another issue between two supervisors in the afternoon shift. I was asked to come to the MD’s office. I reached the MD’s office in fifteen minutes time. The secretary asked me to wait. I collected my thoughts and started my wait. MD was in a meeting at that time. The meeting took more than an hour. I was asked to go inside.
As soon as I entered MD’s room and even before I could even wish him I heard the lines I was dying to hear.
“Mahendra here is your transfer letter. I hope you are happy now. Do a good job here. All the very best.”
I just said thank you and kept standing there amazed by a man’s action to help a fellow employee. When he realized that I was still standing there with confused look on my face he just said “Ok” and I left his room. I couldn’t help admiring the person who in one stroke had given me what I really wanted but didn’t make me feel that he was doing me a favour. That one decision changed my life for better and for ever. What a man and what a human being!! And to think it all started with floccinaucinihilipilification.
During my tenure in the same company I had pleasant association with three more MDs. Some day I might decide to write about them.